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HONOLULU (June 30, 2014) — “I am extremely disappointed with today’s Supreme Court Hobby Lobby ruling that now allows certain for-profit companies to deny coverage of specific birth control methods if those methods conflict with the owners’ religious belief,” Mark Takai, a candidate for Hawaii’s First Congressional District stated. “The fact that the Court’s 5-4 ruling was made along gender lines clearly shows that more needs to be done to protect the rights of American women,” Takai added. Justice Breyer is the sole male justice who dissented with all female justices.

Mark Takai believes that for-profit companies should not be allowed religious exemptions because in most cases employees will not be the same faith as their employer. In her dissenting opinion, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg wrote that this decision could be seen as favoring one religion over another, and may be contrary to the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Hawaii delegate to the Democratic National Committee, Jadine Nielsen states, “I am proud to support Mark Takai, a strong supporter of the pro-choice agenda and an effective — and consistent — voice on behalf of Hawaii’s women and their children.”

In 2013, Takai supported a bill, signed into law, requiring hospitals to provide victims of sexual assault with emergency contraception, without any religions’ exemptions. In his 20 years as a state representative, he has always supported a woman’s right. He is the only male legislator to ever Co-Chair the Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus.

“I believe business owners shouldn’t be involved in the most personal decision a woman and doctor can make,” added Takai. “The government must ensure that all women have access to important and sometimes lifesaving medical services.”

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PO Box 2267, Pearl City, HI 96782

Mark Takai is a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of Defense or Department of the Army.